Toxicity effects of energy drinks in combination with alcohol on the cerebellar cortex of adult Wistar rats

Abstract

Background and aim: Alcohol in combination with energy drink becomes a popular combined drink among young and old people, for different reasons. This study aimed at investigating the acute toxicity associated with energy drinks in combination with alcohol on the cerebellum of adult Wistar rats.

Methodology: A total of 40 Male weight 121-134g and were divided into four groups, Red bull + Alcohol, Herbal Energy Drink+ Alcohol and Alcohol + Red bull + Herbal Energy Drink, as experimental groups and control group, and each group comprises of 7 rats each. Group Red bull + Alcohol (2.4ml), Herbal Energy Drink+ Alcohol (2.4ml) and Alcohol + Red bull + Herbal Energy Drink received (3.6ml), while control group received distilled water for a period of 28 days. After administration, they were euthanized using cervical dislocation, and the brains were collected and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for analysis.

Results: The results showed significant increase (p<0.05), in body weight of the treated groups Red bull + Alcohol (87.66±2.04), Herbal Energy Drink + Alcohol (107.97±1.19) and Red bull + Herbal Energy Drink + Alcohol (93.77±1.22), compared to the control. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) decreases statistically (p<0.05), in energy drinks in combination with alcohol compared to control while Malondialdehyde (MDA) increased statistically (p<0.05). Histopathological analysis showed that energy drinks in combination with alcohol induced neuroinflammation.

Conclusion: Our results suggested that energy drinks consumption with alcohol causes an inflammatory response and oxidative stress lending to neuronal death cell.